a3Genealogy - Accurate, Accessible Answers - specializes in military, naturalization records, Native American and African American ancestry. The a3Gen blog is penned by Kathleen Brandt, an international genealogy consultant, speaker and writer. a3Gen clients span from Europe, Asia and Africa to the Americas.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

This is a reprinted post from 2009… but oh so fun when reminding
genealogy researchers to review Criminal Records and Conduct Registers when
tracing ancestors. The following examples were all taken from ancestry.com (a
quick search on the name Santa Claus). You know you too are curious of what ‘ole
Santa was doing in the 1880’s.

On the 15 Aug 1881, the U. S. District Court, Western District
of Arkansas was none too happy with Santa Claus. Was he really selling “spirit?”
Perhaps it was a tough year, and he needed help spreading the Season’s Joy. Well this “colored” Santa, lived in Eureka
Springs close to the Tahlequah (Indian Reservation), was accused of“introduc[ing] into the
Indian country a large quantity of spirituous liquors…two gallons of whisky[sic]”.
By doing so, he violated the IRS laws by not paying the special liquor law tax.

In November of 1888, Santa Claus from Texas, was
serving time in the State Penitentiary in Huntsville. He had to serve two years
for rebellious conduct. He unfortunately didn’t complete his time, as he died
25 April 1889. Hmm...no one said Santa
was immortal!

It Might Be Legal In Some Places, but….

At a3Genealogy we aren’t sure if Santa
isn’t being mistreated…a bit. In
Minnesota, women can face up to 30 days in jail for impersonating Santa Claus…it
was on the books as late as 2012. Wondering if that has changed this past year!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Deadline - 22 Dec 2013, 5:00p.m.
One lucky follower will win a 23andMe DNA kit ($99.00 value). Putting health/medical issues aside, this DNA kit is a wonderful tool to aid in determining family and kinship. This autosomal test assists in genealogical research and bringing down research in your brickwalls. For information on this type of DNA testing, review Your DNA Results.

Researchers of historical topics of South Africa will find an impressive collection also at the 5) National Archives of South Africa (NASA) website, which provides searchable finding aids for various topics. Here are a few of the databases of interest.

Slavery existed in South Africa from 1653, Cape Town, until 1834 when it was abolished. (Yes, before the USA - it was under the British Empire nonetheless). This only granted ex slaves a life of forced indentured servants under their former slave owners. The “mandatory” apprenticeship of indentured servants did not end until about 1840. So where are these records? What more is available? Where would the“Nelson Mandela” family find information on his family history.

There are resources to searching South African genealogists. Websites (many searchable, or at minimum with a finding aid) can be found to cover every thing from 6) British 1820 Settlers to South Africa to the 7) Jewish South African SIG and database. There's the 8) University College, London database to assist descendants of slave owners trace their ancestors' involvement in the Mauritus, and Cape Colony slave trade. But what about the enslaved? Or indigenous Khoikhoi, as for true history of South Africa?

Of course oral family history is essential, but there’s more, at least for Mauritians. Researchers may wish to visit the Nelson Mandela Centre for 9) African Culture Slave Database to learn more of their Mauritian slave history.

Monday, December 2, 2013

We
know "Potter’s Field" as land set aside for burials in unmarked graves; often paupers
and the poor and indigents' burials. But, “potter’s field” actually originates from
the Bible- the Gospel of Matthew. When Judas Iscariot was overcome with remorse
for accepting the thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus, he returned the coins
to the temple. However, the priests would not accept the thirty pieces of silver,
deeming it “blood money.” Instead the silver was used to buy land to bury the poor
and foreigners. The purchased land had once been owned by a pot-maker, so it was
known henceforth as “potter’s field.” (For a longer version visit:The World Detective.)

Where
to Find Records

Although it would not be feasible to name all of the nation’s Potter’s Field burial record locations, here are a few frequently referenced Potter's Field record holdings:

Begin with A Local Search.The local Potter’s Field was the answers to not only the burying the poor and unclaimed remains, but also to epidemic deaths, prisoner burials and for those not permitted to be buried on the church grounds. The smallest of towns seem to have a Potter’s Field. Often land was set aside adjacent to a City Cemetery for indigent burials. Such is the case with Hutchison, KS, Eastside Cemetery. Tip: Begin with the last known residence of your ancestor and check the area for Potter’s Field.At a3Genealogy we begin with a 200 mile radius (especially in rural areas), but know our Kansas ancestors have been located in Chicago; and our North Carolina ancestors interred in New York.

Learn About the Record Collection. Like many historical collections, Potter’s Field records may not be complete. Even the NYC Hart Island records are missing two volumes of infant burial records, spanning 1977 to 1981. So be sure to understand the shortcomings of the records and collections.Historical cemetery names have changed and often the burial sites have been moved or expanded. Here’s an example from the Kansas City Times, 23 March 1972 account of Potter's Field:In 1911, the Union Cemetery of Kansas City closed their Potter's Field. In May 1911, the new Potter's Field opened at the Municipal Farms and was known as Leeds Cemetery…” “Grave sites were marked with a metal stake that had the name of the deceased written on paper and held under a piece of glass. A few of the stakes can be found, but no names or marked grave sites have survived. All that remains is rough, hilly land covered by trees and scrub. This was known as Section #1 and had burials from 1911-1934. Section # 2 was opened in 1934 and had burials until 1965. This section was on the west side of I-435 while Section #1 was on the east side of I-435. The address for section #2 is 6900 Coalmine Road. It was the area where the police firing range is now located. The graves in Section #2 were marked with cement cylinders with numbers on them and each burial was given a number. Some of these remain in place.

Research Historical Context: Were Ethnic Burials Allowed? Evergreen Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Los Angeles, parceled land for indigent burials as early as 1877. This ethnically segregated cemetery held designated sections for Armenians, Japanese, Chinese, early white settlers, and a large section of Mexican graves, and acreage for indigent persons was set aside. Evergreen Cemetery historically allowedAfrican-Americansto be buried at the cemetery also.Ownership of the indigent cemetery passed from the City to the County of Los Angeles
in 1917 - 1924. In 1924 Los Angeles chose to cremate the remains of their lost and
abandoned and built a crematorium:Boyle
Heights. We have located a listings of Boyle Heights burials, void of in-depth genealogical information.

The Jewish Cemetery Mt. Zion, Los Angeles, was created as a cemetery for the Jewish
indigent between 1916 and 1919. There are over 6800 burials at Mt. Zion. Researchers can find the indexed listings onJewishGen Online Worldwide Burial
Registry(JOWBR). The Hebrew name
may be provided.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Most
of us know the 1919 history of Armistice Day. We may also know that 11 Nov 1938
it became a Federal Holiday to recognize and honor WWI veterans. The recognition of American soldiers was extended
to “American veterans of all wars.” 1 June 1954 thanks to President Eisenhower.
So that would include the early wars. Early
war veterans were most often recognized locally way before Armistice Day,
especially in small towns across America.

Using City
Directories

Local
researchers may find their veteran ancestor featured in newspapers, local town
histories, and even in city directories. Families were sometimes elevated to “local
celebrity status.”

In
1888 the Des Moines City Directorynoted
its Sons of Veterans and highlighted officers of the Iowa Prisoners of War
Associations way before the 1919 Armistice Day and decades before the official
8 Oct 1954 Veterans Day Proclamation.

In Toledo

The
1892 City Directory not only lists the Sons of Veterans information but also
the Union Veteran’s Union (Civil War).

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Hildebrand Gurlitt and Forensic GenealogyFew
are as fortunate as those researching Hildebrand Gurlitt, his family, the Gurlitt
Gallery and his business operations. If you have been following the news, Hidebrand
Gurlitt is probably a household name. He was an art dealer before, during, and after
the war. Recently his art collection - some acquired legally, other looted pieces,
or hidden to keep safe - valued at over $1.3 billion dollars was discovered in his
son Cornelius Gurlitt’s Munich flat. Hildebrand died 9 Nov 1956. The art included
Nazi confiscated pieces and many classics. There was a copper engraving of a crucifixion
scene by Albrecht Dürer from the 16th century. For a good briefing on the news visit
The Economist.

What
few realize is that Gurlitt was thoroughly questioned by the Unites States,
France and other world governments, so post-War documents - lists of art
pieces, and correspondence between he and various agencies - is in abundance.
The correspondence included lists of his inventory which identified works of
Picasso, Degas, Chagall, Matisse. All of these collector
favorites passed through the Gurlitt Gallery.

In 1945, when Hildebrand Gurlitt was being questioned for his art
dealings, young Cornelius was only 12 years old and sibling Renate, 10. But it was Cornelius who became the custodian (legal or not) of the
art.

Genealogy
of Hildebrand Gurlitt

The
genealogy and official biography of Dr. Hildebrand Gurlitt is outlined for us in
his 10 page Oath dated 10 Jun 1945. Gurlitt
included in his Oath a “full and complete declaration” of his art, as required by
the post-war investigation. The Office of Military Government, U.S. Zone (Germany)
(OMGUS) were attempting to return the original pieces to their rightful owners.
Visita3GenealogyHildebrand
Gurllitt Oath and Genealogypage for his full declaration dated 10 Jun 1945..

The family history Gurlitt provided to OMGUS
spanned several generations and provides researchers substantial information.

What’s Next? Forensic GenealogyUncovering
the art pieces is only the first step of the long process of returning the valuable
art pieces to their rightful owners and families. Who were the owners, who are the heirs? What is
the fate of these wonderful pieces of history? These are some of the looming questions.

There
are many post-war letters salvaged in governmental records in France, the US, and
other countries requesting their art to be returned; therefore, owner’s names can be verified for some
pieces. Sometimes addressed envelopes were salvaged in the various post war collections
providing clues of residence for the heir researcher. Gurlitt also kept accurate
records for pieces that were legally acquired, and provided accounts of the Gallery
pieces to the post-war investigators of various countries.

However,
time will seem to stand still, as lawyers, forensic genealogist specialists,
private investigators, and others, research to locate families and heirs.

Note:
In the US, the Gurlitt Investigation information, documents and records are held
at the National Archives and Records Administration; much is in theArdelia Hall Collection.

Friday, November 8, 2013

As
a family researcher or genealogists have substituted tax lists for those missing
census records or for county/state enumerations between census? At a3Genealogy we find that we use Kentucky,
Tennessee and Virginia tax lists the most, so we wanted to share this topic
with our readers with a few helpful links.

What Types of
Tax Lists?

There
were poll tax, real property tax (land), and personal property tax (slaves,
cattle, horses). And let’s not forget the tithing states, like Virginia; and early
quit-rent taxes paid by landowners before Revolutionary War in Colonial America.
Again these can be analyzed.

In
Virginia the 1790 and 1800 census schedules were lost (ever wonder how that
happened?), but tithable men were enumerated. Tithable monies were important to
pay for the maintenance of the local churches and parishes. It was through a tithable
Virginia list that we located Tim McGraw’s ancestor Isaac Chrisman in VA.

Since
tax lists were created annually, with a bit analysis, the researcher can…

Narrow birth years of males (when are
they initially named on the tax lists).Know your states’ laws for the year as to when a male (son) must be
listed individually and not enumerated with the father.

Differentiate men of the same names. .

Track families that were not
landowners.If they were not landowners,
researchers rarely find a probate or will.

In
addition to substituting census records, we find that tax lists are especially
useful when paired with pre-1850 census records.

A
great article on analyzing tax lists and the possibilities of solving research
problems is provided on the FamilySearch.org Wiki: Kentucky Tax Records. Even if you aren’t researching in Kentucky, this
article is helpful. Here’s a small excerpt:

A study of tax lists across time would reveal which of the
three men named John Jones owned land. The land could be identified by location
and tract. The acquisition and disposal of the land can be tracked for each
man. With this knowledge, deeds and land grants can be checked. Deeds may
reveal the wife’s name. This may now have helped pinpoint which John Jones
married Sintha Smith. John Jones’ relationship to the other Jones men in the
neighborhood can then be studied.

Where to Begin

Here are three key points to tax lists analysis:

Virginia Early Laws

Know the law of the county/state of interest

Also, stay mindful of the state and county map
formations. As noted, Kentucky and West Virginia were in present day Virginia
in 1783.

Early
Tax List Records for Tennessee, 1783-1895, may be digitized on ancestry.com.
This database collection includes 71 Tennessee counties. Originals of Tennessee
salvaged tax lists may be found at the State Library and Archive.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

As
family researchers and genealogists, one of our common brick-walls is a result of
the lack of resources to confirm kinships. Familiar relationships, parents’
names, maiden names are all needed to
complete family units, but what happens when we’ve exhausted all the normal
resources - census, wills/probates, deeds, vital records, church records…etc.?
Well, hopefully the researcher has not overlooked Chancery Records when they
are available.

What are Chancery Court Records?

Chancery
Court records hold a wealth of genealogical information. Although not
necessarily a part of every states’ historical legal system, when available it
will behoove the researcher to take more than a cursory glance at these genealogical-rich
documents. Researchers will find personal
testimonies that include family relationships. In some states (i.e. Virginia,
Tennessee, etc) chancery court records are available from the early 18th
century through early 1900’s. In Virginia alone there are over 233,000 multi-paged
cases. More on Virginia Chancery Courts can be found at this informative piece on ancestry.com.

What
is Next Friend?

Of
course the key to understanding any court record relies on period vocabulary.
In the Chancery Court record of Sally Grimes of Hanover County, VA vs. Joseph
Grimes, Sally’s father Gabriel Winston is identified as both “father” and “next
friend.”

A
next friend can be considered the person who represents and speaks on behalf of
the plaintiff. The next friend may be a parent, a guardian, an older sibling ,
etc. By no means should the researcher
assume it is a parent or even a relationship. We have uncovered many next
friends proven not to be of blood relation.
In many cases the next friend is identified, removing the tempting
guessing game and solidly identifying kinships. This is most useful, when also
looking for a maiden name.